School Leaders Unveil Quartet of Multimillion-Dollar Projects Pending Bond Approval

Maricopa Unified School District (MUSD) chief financial officer, Jacob Harmon, revealed detailed plans for a proposed $70 million bond election set for November 5. The bond aims to tackle the district’s substantial enrollment growth, nearing 10,000 students.

If passed, the bond will enhance state funding for school construction and expansion over several years. “Our bond tax rate decreased 12 cents this year, from 92 cents down to 80 cents,” Harmon stated. He assured that the new bond would maintain the tax rate at or below 80 cents, averaging around 63 cents.

The proposed bond includes funding for two new schools: a middle school and an elementary school. Additionally, Maricopa High School’s facilities for Career and Technical Education, college preparation, and workforce development are slated for expansion to add instructional space.

The new middle school, located in the Sorrento community, has an estimated cost of nearly $44 million. The land was donated to the district, yielding additional state grant funds. The project is scheduled to break ground next summer, with a two-year construction timeline. The state granted almost $31 million for this project, covering 96,670 square feet at $320.54 per square foot.

Other improvements include $25 million earmarked for Maricopa High School. The new elementary school, also planned at 96,670 square feet, is set to begin construction in July 2026 and finish by July 2028. This project will cost $44 million with a state grant contribution of $41.7 million.

An additional classroom space expansion of 125,000 square feet will cost $56.8 million, supported by a state grant of $44.7 million. The bond will cover four major projects totaling approximately $69 million.

School board member Torri Anderson emphasized the bond’s necessity for delivering a top-tier education. Without it, they risk losing critical State Facilities Division (SFD) grant funding. Board Vice President Patti Coutré appreciated the straightforward four-project plan, expressing optimism that the community’s support wouldn’t raise taxes while maintaining educational standards. Board President Robert Downey also endorsed the academically-focused proposal.